Patellar fractures in cats: Repair techniques and treatment decision-making

While feline patellar fractures are not commonly encountered in practice, they tend to be found more often in younger cats; no breed or sex predispositions are recognised. If there is no evidence of a traumatic aetiology, the cat may be suspected of having patellar fracture and dental anomaly syndrome (PADS). Patellar fractures are easy to diagnose on lateral radiographs and there are several different fracture types. The type of fracture, the age of the cat at fracture occurrence and whether there is suspicion of a pathological aetiology are all relevant when considering treatment technique.

While some cats with patellar fractures will do well with conservative management, surgical treatment is often indicated and decision-making can be challenging.

Information and recommendations provided in this review are based on the literature and the author's own clinical experience. There are several publications on PADS, but there is limited evidence as to what the underlying cause of this condition is, and the best method for managing patellar fractures is still an area where more research is needed.

This review aims to gather the papers, case series and case reports published over the past few decades in order to discuss how best to manage different types of patellar fractures.